WW1 Medical
Corps

"You can’t imagine how awful it is. We thought we
knew about war when we were in the other sector as we took in different
parts of the front. Our first few months seemed more a picnic than
anything else. It is no fun traveling around with attacking
division.

“We are back in a place for we can get ahold of
baths again. My, that is good news! And we've gotten very
good quarters too. It's a little better than sleeping in an old, rickety
barn, on moldy straw, with lice, mice and rats running over you, bombs,
shells, bullets bursting within 10 to 50 ft. from you, and waking up in
the middle of the night to put on your gas mask. We have been
through all that (and) the memories aren't very pleasant.”

Entered service July 2, 1918. Stationed at
Camp Cody. N. M., as bacteriologist and chemist in Base Hospital
laboratory, also Division Agent on Bureau of Civilian Relief, Mountain
Division of American Red Cross, in Post War Work, at Denver Colo.
Received discharge from Medical Department of the army, January 27,1919,
and left immediately for Denver to take up work with the American Red
Cross. Born at LaFayette, Ind., Jan, 4, 1884, daughter of S. H. P.
and Amanda C. Boyer. Graduate of LaFayette high school, Chautauqua
School of Physical Education, Chautauqua N. Y., and Purdue University.
Home is LaFayette. Ind.

Willys Peck Wagner, Medical Corps, Vigo County, Indiana

“Still strongly against compulsory military
service excepting case of actual invasion. Would like to see all
armies completely abolished.”

School for treatment of Shock and Hemorrhage, Dijon, Cote d’Or,
France

Field Hospital Co. #352, Romangny, France, treatment of gassed
cases.

Battalion Gas Officer, 313th Sanitary Train

Base Hospital #15, Chaumont, France

First Depot Division, St. Aignon, France

Camp Hospital #49, Laignes, Cote d’ Or, France

Officer Chief Surgeon, Advanced Section, Neuf Château

Post Hospital, Romagne, France (Argonne Cemetery)

Infirmary, Motor Transport Corps, Reception Park, Bourg, Haute
Marne

Commanding Officer, Medical Detachment, 426th Motor Supply Train

Troop Surgeon, USS Montpelier

Iva Lehman, Nurse,
Whitley County, Indiana

"Anyone who is actively interested
in the war, especially those of us who saw its results from the physical
standpoint, can only repeat Sherman when he said, 'War is Hell.'
One trip to a government hospital today, 18 years after its close, will
prove this to its fullest.

"In spite of the fact that we were
provided with rubber boots, and in addition took with us one or two
extra pairs of rubbers, we were soon in need of more rubber footwear.
Fifty days of continuous rain make the mud almost bottomless, and it was
impossible to step out of our quarters without being protected. A few
walks were made with broken stones and cinders, but the broken stones
were hard on shoes. Many of us wore rubbers issued from the
Quartermaster's, but they were so large and heavy that we can scarcely
carry them. I went into Nevers one day for the purpose of buying some
new rubbers. I saw in a show window, a pair that looked as if I
might be able to wear them. After the use of my few broken French
words, and many gestures, the French girl clerk took the rubbers from
the window for me to try. They were fairly good fit; so I took
them and paid for them. When I was ready to leave, she picked up
my mud covered rubbers that had very little sole left, smilingly, set
them on the counter, and said 'My American souvenir'.

Christmas of 1918 in France was very
interesting. All did what they could to make it a merry one, as
there were prospects of our soon going home, but Quartermaster issued us
a 100 lb. sack of sugar to be made into candy. We were busy every
minute when off-duty, for several days, on this job, as we only had an
upright heating stove in our quarters, and much of the candy was cooked
there. Fuel was very scarce, which added to our difficulties, but
we finally accomplish our purpose, and made the candy go was far as
possible among the boys. Mistletoe grew in abundance, and this was
used to decorate the wards. We also had Christmas trees in the
wards and at the nurse's home. The Red Cross filled home knitted
socks for all the patients with cigarettes, oranges, nuts and candy.
All patients who were able went to Christmas Eve services held at the
Red Cross hut. To accommodate the crowds, three services were
held, the last at midnight. We attended this one and then went to
bed at 4 AM, then many of us put on our white uniforms, which were
seldom worn, our caps and capes, and marched through all the wards
carrying candles and singing Christmas carols. Later, there was a
very nice dinner for the boys, and each ward had a little party of his
own. The photograph shows the inner dress-up uniform. Our
work uniforms were gray crepe or gingham, with white butcher's aprons.
We were often very thankful that they were such, as we had to do our own
laundry work. We never learn(ed) to patronize public wash
pools; so usually a pail served as a wash tub. We were lucky to
have hot water. Our ironing was often done by folding the aprons
nice and straight and sleeping on them. The uniforms had to be pulled as
straight as possible."

"Regularity of camp life improved my health and
increased my weight, but only increased my dislike military and its
methods.

Hard work and irregular hours took off all I had
gained until long after the Armistice, my dislike for military life was
only increased. I really insist things must be and the military
must exist, unfortunately- that such methods are the only ones which
such numbers of men can be handled. I am more bitterly opposed an
effort to war, yet when duty calls in the country is in need of my
services, they were and will be freely and cheerfully given."

Inside a hospital train car.

America's War for
Humanities

Katherine R.
Kreutzer,
Nurse, Miami County,
Indiana

"interesting experiences: Leave spent at Nice and
Mentone. Visit to battlefields, Verdun, Argonne Forest,
Montfaucon, Romagnr Cemetery, Joan of Arc's home. So unsettling
after returning but I could easily have reenlisted. Everyone I
heard from felt the same way. Soon I was myself once more"

"Service in the Army was true to its
reputation - one got anything but the type of service requested in
enlistment. We nurses vowed that in the next war be be
telephone girls - they seem to get all the breaks - but, of course,
we never trade services with them."

62nd Bn., Canadian Expeditionary
Forces “My nearest relatives have always lived here and because of
that I've always considered Ft. Wayne my home, the only home I have.

The 62nd Battalion was absorbed in England by the
30th reserve, Canadian and was sent in drafts as reinforcements to
different units in France, I went with the 29th Battalion and served
with them for 21 months when I was transferred to the #1 General
hospital, Canadian Army Medical Corps and while there was wounded in an
air raid May 19, 1918.

USS Mercy, first completely
equipped hospital ship. The operating room of the "Mercy"

CN 2989 Group 63, Courtesy
Indiana War Memorial

Baruch Mordecai
Edlavitch, Indiana, Medical Corps, Allen County

“Served as a surgeon on five British ships used
in transport service and on one Dutch ship.

On arrival at Liverpool on S. S. Tahiti, the ship
was taken from our service, and I was returned to the US as assistant
Surgeon on S. S. Minnehaha.

After arrival in Liverpool on S. S. Orca, the
ship also was taken from our service. With assigned to duty as
surgeon on S. S. Pannonia. After a wait of several weeks, during
which his ship was held up, he was transferred to duty in the office of
attending surgeon, London, England, a section 2 S. O. S., A. F., and
afterwards was returned to US as surgeon on the Dutch S. S. Noordam.”

"Army Nurses Lie in Far off
France. Army nurses' graves are always decorated by grateful
hands."

US Official Photo

Rosa Mary Rapp, Army
Nurse Corps, Gold Star,
Clinton County, Indiana

Her portrait hangs in the
Historical Building, Frankfort, Kentucky. Louisville City Hospital
Alumnae has a Rosa Rapp fund to loan to nurses in training.

Mary Loraine Wendling, Army Nurse
Corps, Knox County, Indiana

" I liked my work.... We should pray for peace every day."
Amusing: "Nurses drilling and attending Revelry at 6 AM."

Ted Raymond Wesler,
Medical Corps, France, Ripley
County, Indiana

“In August 1918, Private Wesler volunteered to
give some of his blood for transfusion. Was off duty for a day for
this operation.

“War service: was a nurse in the wards of the 4th
Evacuation hospital. This hospital was bombed from an airplane on
July 18, 1918 but no damage sustained, the bomb falling in an adjacent
wheat field.

“When wounded on November 2, 1918 the guns were
evidently aimed at the hospital but five shells fell harmlessly between
the adjacent village and the hospital. Three struck the billet
where fifteen soldiers were sleeping. Two sergeants were
killed, nine privates and one major were wounded, all receiving severe
wounds.”

Mary Lynn Swain, Army Nurse Corps,
Henry County, Indiana

"Unit C was the first outfit in Château
Thierry after the Germans left. Have a citation for bravery under
shell fire."

Pauline E. Pfafman,
Army Nurse Corps, Noble
County, Indiana

“My most lasting impression of the war years was
when 600 nurses and soldiers marched in uniform to the cemetery on
Memorial Day to decorate our departed boys’ graves.”

Nettie Jane Penwell,
Army Nurse Corps, Marion
County, Indiana

“Not bad in the United States, terrible abroad,
so my brother said. Everything about being in Army and Red Cross
Nurse was interesting; being in the service was the happiest time of my
life.”

Entered service June 7, 1917. Was first
sent to France, then transferred to England. Was in Scotland with
secret service and later at Cardiff, Wales. Was born in Illinois,
son of Sanford N. and Letty Mercer. Graduated from Weidner Institute.
Home is at Mulberry, Ind.

Women doctors at an American
Base Hospital in France giving skillful and tender treatment to
American wounded. More than 2,000 women physicians and surgeons
serve these hospitals under the Red Cross.

America's War for Humanities

ADAH McMAHAN ,
Medecin in French Army, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service Aug. 25.1918, under the auspices
of the Women’s Oversea Hospital, USA Unit No.3. which was attached to
the Field Ambulance 1-86Z, for treatment of the gassed men of the French
army. After armistice was signed did Civilian Relief work at
Epinal and Vosges, France. Born at Huntingburg, Ind., Jan.
12,1869, daughter of William Reed and Louise Elizabeth McMahan.
Graduate of Indiana University and Northwestern University. Home
is Lafayette.

WW1 Medical Corps Collar
Insignia

Indiana War Memorial
Collections

Scott Kelsey
Henderson, Base Hospital #54,
Ripley County , Indiana

“Had as many as 2,750 patients during the heavy
fighting, though supposed to accommodate only 1,040. Officers
turned out of mess-hall so as to fill it with cots. The personnel
of the hospital consisted of 185 men and 40 nurses.”

Ella Hand, Red Cross
Nurse, Madison County, Indiana

"The first impression of the war was the marked
activity everywhere, due to the love and loyalty everyone had for our
country and the desire to serve in so great a cause. when our boys began
to return, no one noticed there was disillusionment. Sadness, that
the country they loved had to go to such thing as war and cause so much
cruelty and suffering. Let us pray that our country keeps peace
always.

A dear buddy, delirious from flu, bit me on the
wrist when I was giving him a hypodermic injection. He was out to
fight the Huns. He recovered and was told about it and sent me an
apology. Bless his heart."

Florence J. Martin,
Army Nurse Corps, Clark
County, Indiana

Awarded the
Medaille d'Honneur des Epidemics by the Minister of War,
France.

The Medal of Honor, Epidemics is
rewarded those who had particularly distinguished themselves by their
dedication during periods of epidemic diseases:

Exposed to dangers of contamination,
providing care to patients with contagious diseases;

Preserving, in a personal and
noteworthy, territory or place of the invasion of a disease
epidemic;

Helping to spread or participating in
disinfection operations, during an epidemic.

Mary Kennedy, Nurse,
Dearborn County, Indiana

"An interesting period for new
adventures, taking hardships, and seeing folks pass on to the great
beyond, not knowing what it was all about. At one time on my floor
of our hospital, we were caring for American soldiers, French soldiers
and German prisoners of war."

ROY M. ZUFALL,
Private, Ambulance Corps, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Croix de Guerre: Entered service in July, 1917,
member of Purdue Ambulance Corps. Sailed for overseas in January
and landed in England and was later sent to France. Was awarded
the Croix de Guerre. Born in Lafayette, May 16, 1891, son of
Elizah and Mary N. Zufall. Educated in Lafayette schools and Purdue
University. Wife is Florence Becker Zufall. Home is
Lafayette.

Members of the 108th
Sanitary Corps, 33rd Div., carrying wounded to a field hospital. Trucks
and ambulances are shelled on this road making this the only way
possible to carry wounded to the rear. France.

“Organization used as replacements after signing
of armistice. Was originally made up of Noblesville, Frankfort,
Lafayette and Bloomington boys. Major G F Holland (Bloomington) in
command, Captain George D. Haworth, second in command. Unit
mobilized at Frankfort, Indiana August 5, 1917, trained there until
September 13, 1917. Entrained for Camp Shelby, Mississippi,
September 13, 1917 and September 15, 1917. Only two deaths during
service in this company, both from disease.

Members of the first aid
station of the 137th Ambulance Co., Camp Germany.

Robert T. Millspaugh enlisted in June, 1916, when
the trouble was growing on the Mexican border. He saw that we were
going to be in the war and did not want it to be said of him that he
waited for the draft and so enlisted early. He was not strong and
his family feared to have him go, as they felt he could not endure the
exposure, but he insisted that it was his duty to try, and that if he
should die, it would be just as easy in the Army as elsewhere. He
gave himself freely to the service of his country and paid sacrifice of
his life.”

Jesse Maple Van der Plaat, Army
Nurse Corps, White County, Indiana

"The war seem to be something terrible, and
when the boys were coming back to camp crippled it made us very
sad."

Amusing incident: " one evening a bunch of us
nurses to our lunch and with some privates ( nurses were not allowed
to go out with privates) went on a train to some little burg and had
a picnic. When we were ready to go back to camp, we had no way
to ride. The boys held in auto which took us in. When we
got nearly to camp, I told the driver to let us out as we didn't
want to be caught with him or the boys. He replied 'Sure.
I don't want to be caught with you either!' He had no taxi
license it was not supposed to carry passengers."

Ruth Ellen Jordan,
Army Nurse Corps, Knox County,
Indiana

"One morning before landing in Liverpool, we were
attacked by a submarine, a torpedo fired at us, then to the small
steamer, and do to the quick action of our Capt. in changing course of
the ship, it past us without harm. Spent Easter Sunday, 1919 in
Brittany, marveling at the quaint customs.

"On a bitter winter day, after heavy snowfall, I
saw detachment of courageous young Polish soldiers marching. Many
of them were shoeless, their feet bound with tree bark and rags, but
they went along singing cheerfully. Another thing brought to mind
when I hear people complaining of deprivations, is the many ragged and
hungry refugees in eastern Poland; their homes in ruins, and they would
come to the American Red Cross on foot from miles away, grateful for a
bowl of soup and a slice of bread in medical aid.

Flora Jane
Middleton, Army Nurse Corps,
Carroll County, Indiana

"One of the deepest impressions left on my mind
with the way the soldiers faced their wrecked lives. Shattered in mind
and body, they were cheerful and brave. They would sing 'My left lung
lies over the Ocean' to the tune of 'My Bonnie'."

Mary E. Seeman, Army
Nurse Corps, Wayne County,
Indiana

Served in Oklahoma and Puerto Rico:
“There were 15 nurses in our unit. I did not care for the
natives of Puerto Rico, they were sneaky and treacherous and did not
like the Americans. There were several earthquakes, with some more
severe than others. During one quake, before we nurses knew what
it was all about, our sickest patients, fresh operative cases, were up
out of bed, running to get out in the open.”

Lillian Dell Seneff.
Army Nurse Corps, Orange
County, Indiana

“Dreadful to see men dying with flu.
How happy the boys were to be back, some with fingers gone; some legs
and arms; some, minds gone.